MIA

Well spotted mate. I'm lucky that my service (16 years) all counts for pension as I joined Jan 74. I have always felt that servicepeople who had served and finished (not 22 years) prior to then have been well and truely shafted by all Govt's. Hope it works this time...

GCM

I could be wrong, but it was something to do with not having done 22 years pensionable service.
I did 17 yrs (man and boy) having left in '79, and was awarded a preserved pension, and another terminal grant (I received one on completing LS2 -nice people !!), on reaching 60.
If it affects you, it might be wise to check out the Service pension people, you can get the details from the Veterans Agency website.

Free of income tax? :lol: What an optimist you are Whitemouse! I'm afraid that such a move would set a precident and therefore will never happen.

An EDM is an indication of backbench interest or disquiet about a topic. If it gets enough signatures it stands a small chance of being debated in the House. What you Old Salts need to do is write or preferably visit your local MP and persuade them to sign the EDM. If you want to know who your MP is you can locate them via this link:http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/

If you need help drafting something diplomatic (and therefore more likely to be effective in generating sympathy rather than ending up in the waste paper recycling bin) let me know.

Steve.

PS: As for your ex... I cannot help there I'm afraid, though you might have a claim against her for inflicting psychological trauma on you when she binned piccies of your past. Does it still give you nightmares? :wink:

GCM

Optimism is about all we have left now, but I think Brown is working on a tax for that too... :wink:

But, seriously, how many times have we seen/heard of these motions, only for them to be quietly dropped at a later date - particularly where money is concerned which might affect the amount hoarded in government coffers ?

ADC

Optimism is about all we have left now, but I think Brown is working on a tax for that too... :wink:

But, seriously, how many times have we seen/heard of these motions, only for them to be quietly dropped at a later date - particularly where money is concerned which might affect the amount hoarded in government coffers ?

EDMs are not dropped, all they do is signify interest or dissent in a matter. What you lot need is justice - and that will best come from asserting your human rights!

The reason why the government, or to be more presise, the Treasury, are so unwilling to play fair is the precident it will set and the costs in the future that will incur upon the taxpayer. They should still pay up! If they can afford to fritter away a minimum of Â£6-8 Billion on the Olympics then they should find they money for you lot. They can hardly plead poverty! :x

Midshipman

Talking to a U.S.M.C. reservist stripey in the sandy place and he said that all of Uncle Sams reservists/National Guard girls and boys get a pro rata pension for time served!

So there you go, looks like the powers that be get a pretty good deal with our british reserve forces. A a qualified pool of navy, army, airforce and marine personel only paid when needed and an empty handshake when they leave, bargain!

ADC

Talking to a U.S.M.C. reservist stripey in the sandy place and he said that all of Uncle Sams reservists/National Guard girls and boys get a pro rata pension for time served!

So there you go, looks like the powers that be get a pretty good deal with our british reserve forces. A a qualified pool of navy, army, airforce and marine personel only paid when needed and an empty handshake when they leave, bargain!

Badgeman

I did 16 years from '52 to '68. Signed on originally for 12 years, the signed on for a further 10 because I needed the Â£200 bounty as I had no money when I came home from the far east in 1961. In '68 I bought myself out for Â£350. My son who joined in '66 and did about 14 years then opted for discharge got out for nothing and he got a pension. I don't know how much he gets though.

Badgeman

I had 14 years reckonable service,2 years National Service with the Army and then 12 years Service with the RN from Jan 1954 untill Jan 1966 for which I received a gratuity the Princely sum of Â£252 3 shillings and sixpence.
There have been comments from some 22 year men who have stated that we knew the score when we joined regarding pensions.
After 1975 pro rata pensions came into being and this is one of the reasons that we find it so totally unfair, plus pre 1975 Members of Parliament awarded themselves quite substantial Pensions some for as little as 4 years service.
I find the Early Day Motion to be a step in the right direction and am pleased to see it gaining support ( To date 48 signatures )

War Hero

Now, there's the rub. Our elected bunch of crooks have the say so on how much they award themselves in expenses and pensions, reviewable when they feel like it, in comparison to people who have made a real contribution to UK society through service in any of the Forces. How do we compare, I wonder, to the Police and Fire Brigade, one of which role Servicemen fill when the normal exponents choose to withdraw their labour?